Rajouri, Nov 29: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, today said development of rural areas is prime concern of present government which has launched numerous initiatives to provide enhanced basic infrastructure in these parts of the state.
Minister said this while speaking at a public meeting at Plangar after inaugurating 4.5 km Khori-Plangarh road, completed with a cost of Rs. 3.70 crore. The road would provide connectivity to Khori, Korpra, Maharajpura, Bakri and Plangarh villages.
People from Planger, Plangarh, Khori, Patti, Badanoun and adjoining villages participated in the meeting and raise issues related to development and welfare of their respective areas.
The issues highlighted by the villagers inter alia include widening of Rajouri-Thana Mandi road, blacktopping of Plangarh-Badanoun road, construction of 2 km road to connect Patti village, upgradation of GHSS Plangarh to Women College and Girls HS Plangarh to GHSS, transformers, poles and wires for electrification of Kalla, Kopra and Maharjpura villages and related matters.
The Minister said the government is laying focused attention on development of rural areas so that people living here could get adequate basic infrastructure to lead a dignified and quality life. He assured the public that all their issues would be redressed in a time bound manner.
The Minister asked the Executive Engineer PHE to make temporary arrangements for water supply to the households of these villages and was asked to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for ensuring permanent water supply to these areas. He also directed the concerned for establishing electricity supply to Kalla, Kopra and Maharajpura villages within next 15 days.
On the occasion, Zulfkar approved Rs. 2 crore for development of Patti as model village and asked the District Development Commissioner to prepare a plan for holistic development of the village.
Later, the Minister visited GMC Rajouri and took stock of ongoing work on Rs. 139 crore project being executed in the college which is scheduled to be completed by September, 2018.
The Minister had detailed deliberation on various components of the Medical College and directed the concerned to ensure that work on Residential block get started within shortest possible time. He also exhorted for completion of the prestigious project within stipulated time.
The Minister was accompanied by DDC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, SSP Yougal Manhas, ACD Noor Aalam, SE PWD Majid Wani, SE PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Rafiq Khan, executive engineers of various engineering departments and district officers.
Earlier, the Minister visited the house of Shahzad Khan, senior political leader and expressed condolences on the demise of his mother.